leonshelley01

Although its hammond organ usually rather than piano, most Deep Purple songs would fit the bill.

Back to the OP. Whether you read music or not isn't the point. The point was about a fundamental lack of knowledge about their instrument and a basic music theory.

I don't read music, but have a reasonable grasp of theory and understand chords, scales and modes. If a fellow band member cannot name the chord he is playing (or alternatively work it out), how can they communicate to the other members how the song goes? And how can I tell him/her what to play next, if they don't understand the fretboard? I would consider these to be frustrations and time consuming.

I think it comes back to the need to communicate within a group of musicians. If tab works for you, that's great. If written staves help, use 'em. If leaning the tune by ear and practice is your bag, more power to your elbow. But if the guitarist and you as the bass player cannot relay basic information to each other, there is a problem.

Done.

I think we also have to take into account most people on the forum probably have a non-music day job, and use bass playing as a social and leisure activity that sometimes maybe raises a little cash for a gig. I know I am.

I don't need to read music to write my own songs, and using tab (heresy!) I am perfectly able to communicate my ideas to the rest of the band. In the covers band, likewise, I use tab and it does me fine.

I am not a professional musician, I am someone who takes pride in playing to the best of my ability in the situations I choose. I am not a session player and I have no desire to play in a situation that requires reading. So according to some this makes me a dabbler, under-acheiver and lazy. I am happy to agree. I play for enjoyment and socialising with friends.

I do agree however that a least a modicum of theory knowledge is important in order to explain ideas and jam with mates.

I use a bass big muff quite a lot. It is a lot more versatile for bass players than a standard Big Muff Pi. The 3 modes give very different useable tones, but the best by far is the "dry" setting, which leaves your clean tones and add a fuzz tone as well, sounding almost as if you are bi-amping. There are better fuzz's out there, but you will have to pay an awful lot more for them.

I play enough guitar to play standard rock rhythm parts, which is useful for song writing and to understand how to construct complimentary lines within a band context. I have played guitar in a couple of bands, but never felt particularly comfortable doing so. I always felt I was on the edge of playing really badly so was staring at the neck frowning with a look of panic, whereas playing bass just feels natural and I usually play with an inane grin!

I started on bass and it is has remained my main instrument and am currently in two bands and play bass in both. I do however play guitar at home, mostly as a songwriting tool. I can play rhythm guitar fairly well, but my fat fingers can't move quick enough to solo with any real conviction. When I have played guitar in bands before, it never felt comfortable and always felt under pressure, whereas on the bass it feels natural, I know what I want I to do and how to accomplish it.

+1

I have two MIM Jazz basses. I bought the second one when going in to buy an MIA, but after trying 3 MIA's, realised the MIM just felt better in my hands than the others. I have upgraded pickups, bridge and added Hipshots X-tenders, but that is due to the nature of the style of music I play rather than any shortcomings in the stock items.

I think it is SO important to not be blinkered when buying Jazz and Precision basses. Go in and try all of them. Discover which one feels more natural and comfortable when playing, irrespective of whether it is a Squire, MIM, MIJ or MIA. With the colouring from the pickups, effects and amp, the tone can be altered to taste, but the way it feels in your hands can't.

Completely different style from the above video, Paul Gray from Slipknot used BEAD and Drop AEAD on four string most of the time in Slipknot as well.

3 minutes and gone!

Hi,

I have had a new unused set of Rotosound RS66LD Swing RS66LD strings (45-105) that I am never going to use sitting here for a couple of months. As I have a few new sets of my fave D'Addarios now, I don't need these as backup any longer.

So, the deal is first person to PM me can have them, and if they send a SAE to me I'll pop them in the post.

Cheers,

Leon

+1 for the wristbands!

[quote name='Fat Rich' post='1186545' date='Apr 3 2011, 10:06 AM']Most of the top players say that to really improve you have play music with people far more talented and musical advanced than you're current level. This involves being a faker and seeing if you can get away with it

Basically, if we're challenging ourselves musically then we should be faking it. The trick is to progress to faking it at higher and higher levels, because there's always going to be someone who knows more about music that we can be learning from.[/quote]

+1

Playing with other musicians always pushes you to learn in order to keep up. I have loads of instructional books/DVDs etc., but have always felt I have learnt more in a jam/rehearsal with other people. I try learn a couple of new songs a week to get ideas/riffs and then just incorporate it into my basslines.

NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER SURRENDER!

Having a bit of a clearout, so as I no longer have a non-bass guitar, I have some Lick Library DVDs to offload. All are in full working order. I am looking for £7 each inc. P&P., payment through Paypal please.

Learn to Play Guns 'n Roses - 2 DVD set inc. Sweet Child o' Mine, Welcome to the Jungle, November Rain, Paradise City and Don't Cry

Learn to Play Jimi Hendrix - inc. Purple Haze, Little Wing, Voodoo Child (slight return), Hey Joe and The Wind Cries Mary

Learn to Play Iron Maiden - inc Number of the Beast, Run to the Hills, The Trooper, Wasted Years and Can I Play With Madness

Learn to Play Joe Satriani - 2 DVD set inc. Surfing with the Alien, Always with Me Always with You, Circles, Satch Boogie and Summer Song

Learn to Play Led Zeppelin - 2 DVD set inc. Stairway to Heaven, Black Dog, Rock and Roll, Immigrant Song and Heartbreaker

Learn to Play Pantera - 2 DVD set inc. Cowboys From Hell, Cemetary Gates, Mouth For War, Rise and This Love

Learn to Play Pink Floyd - 2 DVD set inc. Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Money, Wish You Were Here, Comfortably Numb and Another Brick In The Wall

Andy James Shred Guitar in 6 Weeks Week 1

Electric Blues Volumes 1 and 2 - 2 DVD set (box cracked)


Drop me a PM if you are interested and I'll get back to you ASAP.

My main bass is a white MIM Jazz with a Gotoh 201 bridge, SD Basslines Hots and a Hipshot D-tuner. My backup is a sunburst MIM Jazz with exactly the same setup, so almost identical! I never take the backup to rehearsal, and only occasionally to gigs if we have a long set, but it gets a lot of home use.

I have twice bought items from the Bass Centre, and both times I have had to wait 4-6 weeks for them. Both had shown as "in stock" on their website. When you try to call them to chase information, their attitude and response is terrible. They make British Gas look like paragons of virtue! Needless to say, I will not be bying from them again.

I'm fairly sure Coda Music in Luton is a Custom Shop dealer as well.

I've never had any problems with my MB4210. The blend feature is fantastic, allowing me the well defined and deep modern channel with a bit of grind from the vintage channel. Occasionally I have gigged with the MBC115 extension cab, but I don't need it most of the time.

I went through 2 Ashdowns and a Gallien Krueger before getting this setup which has been more reliable and gives me the felixibilty and tones I want, all at a very good price point. The one downside is it is frakking heavy!

I use Line 6 Pod Farm and have got some quite good results.

First bass: Satellite P Bass Copy

Go to bass: Fender Jazz

Your bass: Fender Jazz

Top chap, sent the Hipshot De-Tuner next day special delivery and in great condition. A pleasure to do business with you!

Leon

PM'd!

For a covers band, I just use my Bass Muff and a wah. Push the wah fully open for the intro riff and drop the wah off during the rest. Near enough for a pub anyway.

[quote name='icastle' post='1040255' date='Nov 28 2010, 06:42 PM']I did notice that they promise: [i]Any order not completed within 6 weeks will receive a £20 Bass Centre gift voucher [/i]
Lets face it, you're not going to come up with that as your No.1 service promise unless it's something that happens on a regular basis are you..?[/quote]
After waiting over six weeks for a wah I has ordered, I never recieved my voucher. Probably out of stock.

My 3 biggest influences are probably

Geezer Butler
John Paul Jones and
Steve Harris.

But honourable mentions would go to Flea, Cliff Burton and Roger Glover.